http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01630-20111217-1258.jpgI bought these Araucana's from an ad on here less than a month ago but I can't cope with the cockerel at all and I'm vegetarian so the obvious solution isn't one I can face either
So, if anyone has experience and wants to take him on they can have him free of charge or swap for something else perhaps..
Alternately, if someone wants the whole lot and maybe has a better setup than mine so he might feel more secure and happy, I paid £60 for him (bantam Araucana cockerel) plus a bantam female and 2 large fowl, all approx 1 year old and lavender colouring.
They weren't laying when purchased, but all 3 hens have started laying in the last week, tho not regularly yet. I also got a rather dilapidated but serviceable small coop, some oyster shell, pellets, bowls/feeder etc in that package and if someone wants the lot I am prepared to let them have it all just to not have George to deal with..
They only have a relatively small pen of temp elec chicken wire against the side of my permanent pen so there is no pen included and my current thinking is that it may be that in more space he might feel less threatened and take his girls to a further away corner while the coop is emptied/cleaned. Sadly my skills/finances/physical capacity don't make the building of a large permanent secure space for him an option right now and I've not had the girls long enough to feel that attached, frankly I reckon I'd be better with more ex-batts or POLs, or just the 8 I had before I got carried away than keep him any longer
I sent a message to ask if the previous owner wanted them back but haven't heard and from what he said at the time he was about to move away to college and had no time so I doubt he'll want them but if he does he'll have the first refusal.
The hens etc will not be sold without the cockerel as they are no bother to me whatsoever. If someone wants the pair of bantams, or George and one of the large fowl ladies, that could also be an option.